Chapter 42
I returned to my room cradled in my father's arms.
The room was just as I'd left it. A plate of roasted peanuts the servant had brought as a replacement for the cold teacup and the snacks I'd dropped, and a potted flowering tree much like the one in Yahul's room.
But there was one new thing I hadn't noticed on my way out.
"Huh?"
It was wrapped in oiled paper, and the sweet aroma wafting from it felt awfully familiar.
Father said, "I bought it because I figured you'd be disappointed after dropping yours earlier."
No way—you went out to buy Yongsu candy?
As he sat me down, Father continued, "I came to give it to you, but you weren't in your room."
Father straightened his robes and took the chair across from me.
"Why did that child come looking for you all of a sudden?"
His face was stern, his tone scolding. He didn't seem all that different from usual, but I could tell Father was pretty angry.
Treading carefully, I replied, "He looked hurt when I saw him earlier. I wanted to bring him some ointment."
"Hoo."
Father let out a deep sigh and pressed hard at the corners of his eyes. In the heavy silence, I nervously chewed the inside of my cheek.
"Think twice next time before you act. What if that child had tried to harm you?"
"Yes. I'm sorry."
My voice came out small and meek as I apologized.
"As long as you're not hurt, that's what matters."
Father stroked my head, comforting me.
I ventured a careful question. "Um... Father, what do you plan to do with Yahul?"
"I'm going to take him with me."
It was exactly what I'd feared, and my vision went dark.
"Why? Why...?"
"Did it shock you that much?"
Unable to hide my confusion, I nodded.
Father wasn't as extreme as Namgung Wan about it, but he still treated demonic cultists no differently from other righteous Murim folk.
"You've already seen it yourself, so there's no helping that now."
Father turned his head slightly, gazing off into empty space.
"Back when I fought Cheon Gwi-jo, I learned that he'd mastered the Heukseongmagong.
Father glanced at me with faint worry before going on. "Do you know what the Heukseongmagong is?"
"Just... rumors, that's all."
I'd read books about it, of course, but I couldn't very well tell Father that.
In a low voice, Father explained. "The Heukseongmagong lets you raise your internal energy quickly and easily. But it carries a high risk of qi deviation as a result. The simplest way to lower that risk is by draining the pure qi of young children. Children's qi is untainted and pristine, with few impurities."
Father drew in a heavy breath.
"That's why he only kidnapped children... to steal their qi."
It was just as I'd suspected, but I put on a shocked face anyway.
"Qi is life force, isn't it? If you take that...?"
I trailed off hesitantly, and Father replied with another sigh. "Yes. They all died."
"Then how did Yahul survive?"
"I don't know. But he was kidnapped, same as the others. For whatever reason, Cheon Gwi-jo ended up teaching him the Heukseongmagong."
There'd been no option to refuse. If he hadn't learned it, he'd have ended up dead like the rest.
And Yahul must have used the Heukseongmagong on...
The other children Cheon Gwi-jo kidnapped.
I grimaced and covered my mouth without thinking.
He'd had no choice if he wanted to survive. But no matter the reason, the Murim Alliance would never tolerate it.
"If that child goes to the Murim Alliance headquarters, he'll face severe punishment."
Yeah, he'd end up thrown into the Evil Valley like before.
Father continued calmly. "If he wants to live without ever touching demonic arts again... I'd like to help him."
"......"
I knew it... I just knew he'd say something like this!
Father really did intend to take Yahul with him.
I wanted to pound my chest in frustration, but I forced my expression to stay neutral.
"But Father... I heard Uncle Namgung Wan despises demonic cultists. He trembles at the thought."
"Yes."
"Even if he didn't learn it willingly, do you think Uncle Namgung Wan would understand Yahul practicing a demonic art?"
Father's face turned bitter.
"That's actually what I wanted to tell you. Don't breathe a word of this to anyone."
"You mean...?"
"Yes. Keep it a secret from Namgung Wan especially."
His unexpected words left my mouth hanging open.
"But... but what if Uncle Namgung Wan finds out later? Won't he feel betrayed by you?"
"That's for me to bear."
"......"
Giving Yahul a chance made sense—it was so like Father, frustrating and exasperating as that was. I could understand it.
But hiding it from Namgung Wan? That wasn't Father at all. This wasn't just staying quiet. It was deceiving him outright. Betraying his trust!
Father would never choose a path like that. He'd tell the truth and argue it out if he had to.
Why?
Then it hit me.
"It's because of me, isn't it?"
"......"
"You're worried it'll mess up the schedule, cause problems with my treatment. That's why... that's why...!"
"Yeon-ah."
Father cut me off.
"You don't need to worry about that."
"But...!"
"This is all my fault for failing to kill Cheon Gwi-jo properly back then. It's right that I take